HSG Barkmanns Corner - Combat Mission: Afrika Korps

27 July 1944 Le Lorey, France During July of 1944 the 2nd SS Panzer Division 'Das Reich' was moved across France to stop the American breakout around Saint Lo. The 2nd SS Panzer Regiment assembled with the rest of the division to the south of Saint Lo. SS-Unterscharfuehrer Ernst Barkmann, of the 4th Company, was in a refurbished Panther after having two others shot out from under him, in the previous two weeks. He set out at dawn in the refurbished tank to rejoin his unit. On the way he encountered service and support troops streaming to the rear saying that the Americans had broken through at Saint Lo. Barkmann rallied a group of infantry with a single anti-tank gun from the troops withdrawing. He set up a defensive perimeter just off of Route N172 at the crossroads from Le Lorey. As the leading elements of the 137th Infantry Regiment, 35th US Infantry Division, supported by tanks from the 737th Tank Battalion, advanced the fight was on for what was to become known as "Barkmann's Corner". NOTE: This scenario has been playtested for German vs AI play only.